Chapter 545: External Skepticism

The news of Pang Jian's successful ascension to godhood spread across the Abyss.

The Sword Pavilion deliberately created a stir, declaring that Pang Jian, the new Sword God of this era, would undoubtedly become the strongest weapon against the foreign races and the Outer Gods.

Pang Jian's ascension to godhood directly from the Nirvana Realm was an unprecedented achievement that only signaled his limitless potential and boundless future.

In this way, Pang Jian became hailed as a beacon of hope for the human race in the Abyss.

The Sword Pavilion also formally contacted prominent True Gods like Li Wang and Gui Mu, asserting that Pang Jian's ascension meant the Sword Pavilion could rightfully return to its original place in the First World.

The Sword Pavilion was on the verge of reclaiming its former glory.

However, Li Wang and Gui Mu did not immediately respond to the Sword Pavilion's demands. It was evident that these esteemed True Gods harbored doubts about the strength of this newly ascended God.

***

In the Eastern Land, there lay a tranquil valley filled with willows and dotted with seemingly modest wooden lodges.

Among these stood the ancestral shrine of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom's Liu Clan, symbolizing that this was the birthplace of their lineage.

Liu Youyu's Flying Fish Boat could be seen sailing in.

"Elder, Pang Jian has become a True God. His long-wandering divine soul has finally returned," she exclaimed, her crisp voice ringing out long before her boat even landed.

After docking, she jumped off the boat and indignantly burst into a room lined with cabinets.

"According to ancient rules, any sect with a True God is entitled to select a location in the First World.

"The Sword Pavilion was once one of the strongest sects in the Abyss. They only fell to the Second World due to the fall of the Sword Gods.

"It's only right that they reclaim their original place now that Pang Jian has become a True God.

"Why haven't Li Wang or Gui Mu made their stance clear? Elder, what's your stance?"

Liu Youyu stood with her hands on her hips and her sparkling eyes filled with questioning intent.

Although shy and reserved with others, Liu Youyu freely expressed her frustrations with her beloved elder, Liu Fu.

"My stance? I was the last True God to leave the Imperial Dominion. Li Yuanli was the first, followed by Wanderer Tian Du. I stayed with Li Zhaotian for an additional three months. If not for your cultivation bottleneck, I could've stayed long enough to witness Pang Jian's divine soul return firsthand."

The elder and youth conversed openly in the ancestral valley of the Liu Clan. They had no fear of their conversation being overheard due to the presence of secret arrays.

"I fully support the Sword Pavilion's return to the First World," Liu Fu stated firmly. "Li Wang and Gui Mu likely have other considerations, which is why they haven't immediately agreed.

"For one, the timing isn't right. The Sword Pavilion building itself is a weapon of mass destruction. Its strategic position on the Heaven Awakening Continent will undoubtedly allow it to deal devastating blows to the foreign races when they invade.

"The Sword Pavilion disciples are also unmatched in lethality. The major factions are sending their strongest to the Second World, so it's not exactly the best time for the Sword Pavilion to return to the First World yet.

"Also..."

Liu Fu hesitated.

"Pang Jian's ascension as an Immortal Realm God is unlike anything we've seen before. No one knows the specifics. Li Wang and Gui Mu probably believe that Pang Jian lacks the true strength of a True God."

"What? Are they refusing to recognize Pang Jian's status as a True God just because he's young?" Liu Youyu fumed. "Just because he succeeded in ascending from an earlier cultivation realm than them?"

Liu Fu replied patiently, "Pang Jian still needs to prove himself through battle."

***

A similar conversation unfolded in the Ancient Law Sect in the Northern Ruin.

"Elder, how does Pang Jian, this so-called Immortal Realm God, compare to you?" Dong Wenjian asked in a secluded chamber.

True God Dong Shangqing paused in his drawing of talismans, carefully placing his radiant brush aside before shaking his head. "It's hard to say."

"Why is that?" Dong Wenjian pressed.

Dong Shangqing mulled it over.

"There's no precedent for such a case, which makes it difficult to judge. Combat against one of the other True Gods is the only way for a comparison to be made.

"A single battle will reveal his worth and determine whether this newly ascended Immortal Realm God truly has the strength of a True God." A faint smile flickered across Dong Shangqing's face. "Why are you so concerned about him?"

"He earned my respect and recognition on the Fey Spirit Continent in the Fourth World and the Sacred Soul Continent in the Second World," Dong Wenjian replied, lips curling into a smile. "I rarely trust anyone or fight alongside others for fear of being betrayed, but Pang Jian is an exception."

Dong Shangqing sighed. "Sword cultivators from the Sword Pavilion truly have a unique charm. None of them have ever been schemers, whether it's Li Zhaotian, Jiang Ran, or the Sword Gods of earlier eras. It's what makes the Sword Pavilion so distinctive.

"Don't worry. I'll stand with the Sword Pavilion when it comes time to cast my vote as a True God."

***

On the Demon Abyss Continent, members of the Forsaken Expanse Sect had stationed themselves in the territory that once belonged to the Demon Heart Sect, preparing for the surge of murky energy and the impending war against the foreign races of the Fifth World.

Powerhouses in the Immortal Realm, the Nirvana Realm, and the Soul Wandering Realm were scattered across the Demon Abyss Continent.

As one of the two human-ruled continents in the Second World, the Demon Abyss Continent was destined to become one of the bloodiest battlegrounds in the war.

True God Li Chu personally presided over the continent.

While sitting cross-legged atop a heart-shaped black stone platform, Li Chu suddenly received a message that came with a resonant dragon roar.

He wants me to test Pang Jian and assess the strength of an Immortal Realm God? In return, I'll secure the friendship of the Dragon Lair Sect?"

After weighing his options, Li Chu left the Demon Abyss Continent.

***

The Resolute Expanse no longer hid beneath dense clouds, instead floating proudly above them and basking openly in the sunlight.

Thunder and lightning would rage during storms, striking furiously at the Forbidden Land of the Thunder God. Most of the lightning was concentrated on the valley where the Thunderclap Paradise lay.

Pang Lin had yet to emerge from the Thunderclap Paradise. The Blessed Land, which contained traces of the Duke of Thunder's Heavenly Dao, clearly provided her with immense benefits, but comprehending its mysteries took her a long time.

Her relationship with Pang Jian and status with the Pure Land Sect meant the Thunderclap Paradise remained closed to all others.

For now, it belonged solely to Pang Lin.

The Verdure Paradise and the Frostclad Paradise, on the other hand, had long been opened to many, allowing wood and cold-attribute cultivators to seek enlightenment in the mysteries of the Heavenly Daos.

Naturally, access to these two Blessed Lands was restricted to members of the Sword Pavilion or those close to Pang Jian.

***

Pang Jian remained hidden deep beneath the Resolute Expanse.

He was in no rush to surface, still attuning himself to the wonders of the Immortal Divine Soul and contemplating the best strategies for combat.

On the Resolute Expanse above, his sister had yet to emerge and everyone else was immersed in arduous cultivation, preparing for the invasion of the foreign races.

The knowledge that everyone was safe and diligently working toward their goals was enough to bring Pang Jian peace of mind.

After fully adapting to his new state, he planned to leave the Resolute Expanse and venture into the Shadow Abyss to eliminate the Star Devourer using his Abyssal Demon Sword, the Heart of Winter, and the Thunder Pool.

Unfortunately, True God Li Chu's arrival disrupted his plans.

***

Li Chu appeared in the clear skies above the Resolute Expanse.

Gazing down at the faintly misty fragmented land below, he took in the sights of the mountains, rivers, newly built towns, and the icy region where the Ice Race lived.

Pang Jian's ascension to godhood meant there was no longer any need to hide the Resolute Expanse.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Still, the truth of this newfound confidence had yet to be tested.

Li Chu had come to determine Pang Jian's strength.

This visit was not just to secure the friendship of the Dragon Lair Sect and a favor from the ancient Thunder Dragon. Li Chu had also sensed that both Gui Mu and Li Wang were eager to know the extent of Pang Jian's true strength.

They wished to know if this Immortal Realm God could truly shoulder the burdens of the future and uphold the legacy of the Sword Gods for generations to come.

"I wish to meet Pang Jian." Li Chu demanded, voice echoing over the Resolute Expanse like a clap of thunder.

Those on the Resolute Expanse had assumed that Pang Jian was at the Sword Pavilion with Li Zhaotian.

However, Li Chu's words made it clear that Pang Jian had secretly returned to the Resolute Expanse.

A True God would not make such claims unless they were absolutely certain.

Liu Junhong and Wang Ce, two Immortal Realm elders of the Sword Pavilion, rose from the fragmented land and soared toward Li Chu.

Li Yuqing and Li Jie of the Divine Treasure Sect, along with Wu Sujin of the Pure Land Sect, stared at the glowing figure of Li Chu in the sky with displeased expressions.

This was Li Chu's second visit. They suspected he still had not given up on the Resolute Expanse, hoping to claim the treasure-laden fragmented land with its three Blessed Lands as territory for the Forsaken Expanse Sect.

Regardless of his intentions, the Resolute Expanse belonged to Pang Jian and the Sword Pavilion, with representatives from the Divine Treasure Sect and the Pure Land Sect stationed there to safeguard it.

Li Chu's repeated appearance seemed both audacious and unnecessarily aggressive, stirring a strong sense of shared hostility from those below.

Whoosh!

A tall figure clad in blue burst from the ground and flew toward Li Chu. In the blink of an eye, he overtook Liu Junhong and Wang Ce then just as quickly left them behind.

"Pang Jian!" Liu Junhong and Wang Ce exclaimed in surprise.

Down below, all attention locked onto Pang Jian, and the eyes of those close to him became filled with delight.

"I'll handle this," Pang Jian called out to the two elders. Stopping before Li Chu, he asked calmly, "Senior, what brings you here this time?"